The grand principle of this establishment is mildness; for it is now
generally acknowledged, that this mode of treating the maniac is much
better calculated to restore reason than harshness or severity.
No keeper has authority here to put a patient in confinement
without first acquainting the superintendant, who inquires into
the circumstances; and if it should appear to him necessary, the
refractory person is put under restraint, which is invariably the
mildest, and only kept so for a short time, unless it be absolutely
necessary. Dr. Wright, whose vigilance is as unceasing as his mind is
patient and humane, will allow no passionate confinement for trivial
offences, being convinced that restraint, without urgent necessity, is
injurious to the feelings and exciting to the irritation of patients,
and considerably impedes their recovery. The good effects of this mild
treatment have done wonders; for a refractory patient is frequently
silenced and becomes tranquil at the mere threat of restraint; which
if adopted for any trivial irregularity, he would become unhappy and
mortified; besides, it would give him a practical specimen of prison
discipline, which perhaps he knows only by name. They are generally
confined, when refractory, to their own rooms for an hour or two, until
they become cool and orderly. The name of the person, the nature of his
offence, the length of his confinement, and the date, are regularly
entered in a book kept for the purpose, which is read by the clerk to
the next sub-committee of governors, who meet every Thursday, upon
which day also new patients are admitted to the hospital, leave of
absence given or enlarged, and the cured discharged.